Saints Announce Roster Moves
The Saints have made the following transactions as they move their roster to 53 players:
Waived:
- QB J.T. Barrett IV
- LB Jayrone Elliott
- LB KeShun Freeman
- TE Garrett Griffin
- DT Woodrow Hamilton
- DB Natrell Jamerson
- DE Alex Jenkins
- LB Colton Jumper
- LB Hau’oli Kikaha
- WR Keith Kirkwood
- T Rick Leonard
- WR Tanner McEvo
- DL Henry Mondeaux
- DB Kamrin Moore
- DE Al-Quadin Muhammad
- DB Linden Stephens
- OL Landon Turner
- RB Jonathan Williams
- OL Nate Wozniak
- TE Deon Yelder.
Waived/injured:
Released:
- G Don Barclay
- DT Jay Bromley
- WR Michael Floyd
- DE George Johnson
- G Josh LeRibeus
- DB Robert Nelson Jr.
- T Michael Ola
- TE John Phillips
- QB Tom Savage
- WR Brandon Tate
- G Andrew Tiller
- DB Marcus J. Williams
Placed on injured reserve:
- TE Michael Hoomanawanui
- RB Shane Vereen
Placed on suspended list:
- RB Mark Ingram
Saints Sign RB Jonathan Williams
The Saints are signing running back Jonathan Williams to a two-year deal off the Broncos’ practice squad, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Williams will take the place of Daniel Lasco, who has been ruled out for the year with a bulging disc.
[RELATED: Saints RB Daniel Lasco Done For Year]
Williams was expected to serve as LeSean McCoy‘s top backup in Buffalo this year. Instead, the Bills made him a surprise cut in early September. He had a fair amount of buzz coming out of Arkansas in 2016, but the new regime in Buffalo might have been upset about some of his off-the-field behavior.
Soon after he was cut, the Broncos made Williams an abnormally high offer to join the practice squad, allowing them to beat out at least three other teams for his services. Williams did not get called up to the Broncos’ varsity team this year, but he may get his chance to see the field with New Orleans.
Williams will likely slot in as the Saints’ No. 4 running back behind Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara, and Trey Edmunds.
Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC East
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC East teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Bills, Dolphins, Patriots, and Jets are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s AFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Buffalo Bills
- Claimed:
- LB Deon Lacy
- TE Khari Lee
- T Conor McDermott
- Cut:
- WR Corey Brown (story)
- LB Gerald Hodges (story)
- RB Jonathan Williams (story)
- Cut from IR:
- LB Sam Barrington (story)
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR Daikiel Shorts
- WR Brandon Reilly
- OL Jordan Mudge
- DE Ian Seau
- DL Marquavius Lewis
- CB Marcus Sayles
- S B.T .Sanders
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed:
- LB Justin March-Lillard
- K Cody Parkey (story)
- Cut:
- Signed to practice squad:
- QB Brandon Doughty
- TE Thomas Duarte
- T Sean Hickey
- WR Malcolm Lewis
- CB Jordan Lucas
- DE Cameron Malveaux
- WR Drew Morgan
- RB De’Veon Smith
New England Patriots
- Signed to practice squad:
- LB Trevor Bates
- OL James Ferentz
- RB D.J. Foster
- DL Geneo Grissom
- WR Cody Hollister
- DB David Jones
- OL Ted Karras
- DL Darius Kilgo
- DB Damarius Travis
New York Jets
- Claimed:
- WR Kalif Raymond
- LB Edmond Robinson
- WR Damore’ea Stringfellow
- TE Will Tye (story)
- Cut:
- LB Freddie Bishop
- LB Bruce Carter
- RB Marcus Murphy,
- TE Jason Vander Laan
- Signed to practice squad:
- LB Frank Beltre
- OL Ben Braden
- CB Xavier Coleman
- DL Deon Simon
AFC Rumors: Steelers, Patriots, Easley, Texans
The Steelers have used the majority of their pre-draft visits within the last week, and announced several more today. As Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com writes, the following players were in Pittsburgh today to meet with the club: Ole Miss defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche, Alabama cornerback Cyrus Jones, West Virginia safety Karl Joseph, South Carolina wide receiver Pharoh Cooper, Virginia Tech linebacker Dadi Nicolas, Colorado cornerback Ken Crawley, Maryland safety Sean Davis, and Boston College safety Justin Simmons.
Here’s more from the AFC:
- Arkansas running back Jonathan Williams is visiting with the Patriots at Gillette Stadium today, sources tell Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (on Twitter). The Pats previously met with the tailback at the combine. Williams, 22, missed the 2015 regular season after undergoing foot surgery. In 2014, he racked up 1,190 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground despite splitting carries.
- Patriots defensive lineman Dominique Easley has hired agents Drew Rosenhaus and Michael Katz of Rosenhaus Sports for representation, as Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets. Easley, 23, has been plagued by injuries since being selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. In December of last season, he was placed on IR with a leg injury. In his injury-shortened sophomore year, Easley totaled 15 tackles and two sacks as a part-time player.
- Texas Tech’s Jakeem Grant is visiting the Texans, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle writes. The wide receiver/kick returner has also worked out for the Dolphins, Colts, and Jets. Grant returned four kicks for touchdowns over the course of his collegiate career with the Red Raiders and caught 90 passes for 1,268 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Bills Sign Landon Cohen, Naaman Roosevelt
The Bills have done some roster shuffling early in training camp, announcing today that they’ve signed defensive tackle Landon Cohen and wide receiver Naaman Roosevelt. To make room on the roster for the new additions, the club has cut wideout Ramses Barden and linebacker Nathan Williams.
Of the four players, Cohen is perhaps the most notable, having been active for 14 contests in 2013 — 12 for Chicago and two more for the Cowboys. According to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), Cohen posted a grade of -16.4, though most of that was a result of poor run defense — he rated as a slightly above average pass rusher, with nine total quarterback pressures. He figures to compete for a roster spot this summer.
Roosevelt, meanwhile, was waived by the Lions last week and returns to Buffalo, where he played his college ball and where he played with the Bills in 2010 and 2011. He’ll replace Barden, a longtime New York Giant, who didn’t play last season after grabbing 14 receptions in 2012.